Notes

Founder of Petersburg, VA
"Peter Jones opened a trading establishment with the Indians, a
few rods west of what is now the junction of Sycamore and Old
Streets. This position for trade was called "Peter's Point,"
subsequently changed to Petersburg." source: An early printed
reference in Dr. William S. Plummer's 1833 account of the
history of Tabb Street Presbyterian Church, as recounted in
"Petersburg's Story - A History" by James G. Scott and Eward A.
Wyatt IV, Petersburg, VA 1960.

Maj. Peter Jones III [3524.9.1.2], the son of Capt. Peter Jones
II and Mary Batte, was born about 1691. As Peter Jones Junr he
secured a patent to 233 acres on Deep Creek in 1722. On 28
September 1728, “Peter Jones, minor {minister}” renewed this
patent and added 354 acres below Deep Creek. In August 1735 he
again renewed this patent and added 1,434 acres. This 2,020
acres, where he made his home, extended below Spinners Branch.
As Peter Jones Jr., without a wife, he sold 210 acres to Thomas
Ravenscroft of Wilmington Parish, James City County, for £60 in
March 1722. In May 1723 he sold 100 acres on Brickhouse Run to
William Jones.
Peter Jones III married Dorothy Chamberlain [7046.2.4.5.2] about
1727. In June 1733 Peter Jones Jr. secured a patent to 211 acres
on the north side of the Nottoway River. They had surveyed the
land for him in January 1725/6 when his father, Peter Jones Sr.,
was still living. In February 1737/8 Peter Jones Gent. secured a
patent to 300 acres on the lower side of Deep Creek. In March
1740 Capt. Peter Jones gave his brother Wood Jones this 300-acre
patent and 21 acres on the east side of the second Great Branch.

Peter accompanied Col. William Byrd of “Westover” on his two
expeditions to lay the boundary line between Virginia and North
Carolina and joined Byrd on his “Journey to Eden” also. Byrd
wrote, “my friend and fellow traveler Peter Jones came
completely accoutered.” Accoutered is a military term meaning
“equipped.”
Petersburg, Virginia, was named for Peter Jones

William Byrd named Petersburg, Virginia, for this Peter Jones.
Peter was a vestryman of Bristol and Raleigh Parishes and major
of the Prince George Militia. In March 1747 he moved out of the
parish to Amelia County. On 7 July 1747, he bought 1,591 acres
in Amelia County from Thomas Jones [3522.4.1] for £800. The land
lay on the north side of West and Buckskin Creeks and was
Thomas’s 1739-patent. By 1753 Peter was a church warden of
Raleigh Parish.
Peter named eight children in his Amelia County will [1753 / 24
Aug. 1758]. His estate included “41 Negroes.” His son John
inherited 1,000 acres below Spinners Branch and Peter IV
inherited about 1,000 acres above the branch. Thomas, Richard,
and William shared the 1,591-acre tract Peter III bought from
Thomas Jones. Peter left his wife, Dorothy, the home plantation,
some “Negroes,” livestock, and household furnishings. Peter
named his six daughters last in his will. Ridley kept the land
she already had and some “Negroes.” Elizabeth and Margaret each
inherited some “Negroes” and £180, and Dorothy, Mary, and Sarah
shared the remainder of the estate with their brothers and
sisters.
Peter Jones appointed executors “my trusty and well beloved
friends Richard Jones Junr., Peter Jones, son of Major Jones and
Edward Jones.” All three were sons of his first cousin Col.
Richard Jones [3524.9.3.1].
Among the slaves Peter left his widow was Tom, who was then
about twenty-six years of age. In 1780 Tom, then about
forty-eight, ran away. He was wearing a pair of britches, a
shirt, a waistcoat, and a pair of shoes over blue yarn
stockings. He carried away another shirt and waistcoat. Dorothy
advertised for Tom’s return in the Virginia Gazette and
described him as “very fond of liquor.” She offered a reward of
200 weight of tobacco.
During the Revolution, Dorothy’s daughter, Mary (Jones)
Thornton, was living with her while her husband was away in the
army. When they heard Tarleton’s raiders were approaching, the
fled in the family coach. When the British general overtook
them, with him was Dorothy’s favorite maid on her best horse and
saddle.
Dorothy died in Amelia County by 22 August 1782 when her will
was presented to the court. Her will is not in the will book.